It was something of a Sophie’s choice this time for Congress president Rahul Gandhi to choose the chief ministers of the three states, that too through consensus. The biggest dilemma was in Rajasthan where Sachin Pilot had turned rebellious. Sonia and Priyanka Gandhi had to come to Rahul’s rescue.
Rahul placed his bet on voting on his party app in which Kamal Nath aced in Madhya Pradesh and Sachin Pilot in Rajasthan, both with big margins. Bhupesh Baghel and TS Singh Deo had a ding-dong battle in Chhattisgarh, with the final difference at mere four per cent.
Anyhow, as soon as the Rajasthan electoral results were declared, Rahul had sent his two trusted messengers KC Venugopal and Avinash Pandey to convince Sachin to agree on Gehlot’s name as the 2019 polls are really crucial to the party. The messengers told Sachin that Rahul is of the view that Gehlot will be able to handle the state well till the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
At this, Sachin queried whether this meant he will be crowned CM post the polls. The two messengers clammed up.
A bird whispered that after this there was a suggestion from Sachin’s end about a two-and-a-half-years formula be brought in which 2.5 years are Gehlot’s and the remaining 2.5 Sachin’s.
When the formula didn’t go well with the high command, Rahul instead offered Sachin the post of Deputy CM and Sachin had little option but to accept what was non offer.